The names of the four astronauts undergoing training for Gaganyaan, India’s first-ever human space flight mission, were revealed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thumba, near Thiruvananthapuram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revealed the names of the four astronauts undergoing training for Gaganyaan, India’s first human space flight mission, on Tuesday.
The four were given “astronaut wings” by the Prime Minister. Modi was at the VSSC to officially open three of the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) most important technical facilities.
The quartet of space travelers are: Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair, Group Captain
Captain of the Group, Ajit Krishnan
During his visit to the Vikram VSCC, Group Captain Angad Pratap Wing Commander Subhanshu Shukla Modi officially opened three significant space infrastructure projects of ISRO. During his visit, he additionally examined ISRO’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
Modi also took a tour of the exhibition of the various ISRO projects on display at VSCC, escorted by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan.
PM Modi inaugurates ISRO projects.
The three projects that Modi officially opened were the PSLV Integration Facility at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh; the Trisonic Wind Tunnel at VSSC; and the Semi-Cryogenic Integrated Engine and Stage Test Facility at ISRO’s transportation complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.
The combined development cost of these three initiatives, which will give the space industry access to top-notch technical facilities, is approximately Rs. 1,800 crore.
The Indian Space Research Organization’s lead center, VSCC, is in charge of designing and developing launch vehicle technology.
In order to assess the aerodynamic qualities and designs of scaled-down rocket and aircraft models, the Trisonic Wind Tunnel at VSSC creates controlled, uniform airflow. It can produce speeds from subsonic to supersonic, up to four times the speed of sound (Mach number 4.0), and has a test section size of 1.2 meters.
The Mahendragiri unit is a cutting-edge establishment that can manage substantial propellant flows. Its height is 51 meters, and its flame detector is 30 meters below the surface. The PSLV Integration Facilities at Sriharikota, which consist of the Integration Building, Service Building, rail track, and related systems, were designed to increase the frequency of launches from the first Launch Pad.
The opening of these facilities represents a major improvement in India’s capacity for space exploration. India’s first manned space mission, called Gaganyaan, is scheduled to launch in 2025 or 2025. According to the project planning a three-person crew will be sent into a 400-kilometer orbit for a three-day mission, with the aim of their safe return to Earth by landing in the Indian Ocean.
